I was wondering how may people on here have joint issues when they are not having GI issues? My joints flared 1 yr prior to my gut flaring. My GI is concerned and wants to move up my appt even tho my gut seems to be okay (recent surgery still having D but I only have 1/2 of my large intestine left...the surgeon wanted to remove enough so I would not have C anymore but hoped it wasnt too much and cause D forever) Dx with Crohn's 1987, symptoms as early as 1984.

I have joint/arthritis problems with or without noticeable gut flaring. My colon did adjust so that the diarrhea got better as time went on after my surgery. I could at least eat more normally, though I still had to steer clear of certain foods or I would get hit with diarrhea very fast. I hope things turn out for the better for you soon.48 yr. old. Ileocolitis. CD since early teens, misdx'd until age 36. Hemicolectomy-left side in 2001. Disease returned in 2003. Arthritis, episcleritis, chronic pain due to surgeries (nerve damage, adhesions) and disease. Recently dx'd scoliosis. History of endometriosis.

My belly is behaving right now, but my joints are really OUCH!!! As I stated in another post to you today, you really should get in to see a Rheumy. I think we all should. My Rheumy said most Crohnnie's develop some form of Arthritis due to our disease. Many of us have AS or Inflammatory Arthritis. I will get my results this Friday. Some of my symptoms is Hip and Butt check pain, my left knee hurts, the right a little less, my feet feel like I am walking on the bones instead of the pads, pain down the spine, and my hands always ache. So as you can see, you are definetly not alone. Sure hope you get some relief soon.

Been living with Crohn's Disease for 32 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec 60 mg, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain and Calcium. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and doing tests to see if I have Inflammatory Arthritis or AS.

I too had half of my large intestines removed exactly one year ago tomorrow. I still have a mix of normal bms and "d". about half and half. Anyway, I also have achy joints but my GI doesn't think it's Crohn's related because I don't have swelling or heat on them. Just lots of pain. My PCP took x-rays and says I do have inflammation(arthritis). My gut tells me it is Crohn's related but who knows.

Vicky / 47 years old

DX'd with Crohn's during a resection August 2006

DX'd with Steriod induced Diabetes November 2006

Considered in Clinical remission but have minor signs of disease activity

Vicky you really should get in to see a Rheumy. The treatments are good for not only the joints but also the belly.Been living with Crohn's Disease for 32 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec 60 mg, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain and Calcium. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and doing tests to see if I have Inflammatory Arthritis or AS.

Nanners right you need to see a Rhumy.All though it's not uncommon for people with crohns to have joint pain,it could be something else and the longer you go with out getting it checked the worse your joint's can get.

I would like to point out that Crohns is an auto immune disease and it is not uncommon to have another auto disease.I have RA it is an auto and I have AS it is an auto and I have OA not an auto,but you get the point.

I agree with nanners that there are newer and better meds out there that can help with the gut and an added bonus it will help the joint's as well.

So you cou7ld have another underlying probleme and if so you need to get to the bottum of it.I am glade that I did or I would probley still be in a whellchair.

Let us know what you find out.and if you have any questions please ask away there is all way's some one that can answer your qwuestions for you.Curley

I spoke to my doctor about this exact issue today. My question to him was whether my joint issues and gut issues have some kind of correlation. He said that when your joints start acting up it is usually an indication of upcoming or current gut issues, i.e. inflammation. Great. I'm praying I'm not going into a flare right now. It is getting to be "that time of year" for me though. September/October are usually the worst months for me.

Currently 3 x per day 1000mgs Pentasa, Aciphex, Lortab, Ambien, Librax (for spasms) & VSL#3 (for probiotics) or activia yogurt, back on the prednisone (10mgs this week) and Entocort (9mgs).

SBCGRACE I once had a Rheumy tell me the samething, that if your joints hurt it is usually a precursor to a flare. That used to be true for me. But now as I have gotten older it doesn't seem to be as true. My belly is pretty good, but my joints kill me.Been living with Crohn's Disease for 32 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec 60 mg, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain and Calcium. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and doing tests to see if I have Inflammatory Arthritis or AS.

I'm curious about this issue. Are you all talking about general aches and pains, or severe joint problems? Are there specific parts of the body that are more typical, or does this vary? Are knees and ankles a typical complaint?My 13 year old daughter was diagnosed Feb. 19/07 with Crohn's of the Terminal Illium. Initially, 9 weeks of Prednisone, currently taking 1500mgs of Pentasa, and iron supplement.

My ankles and knees swell and radiate heat and severe pain. In addition my right hip has begun to hurt in the groin area. I am trying to get in with an RA but since I have not seen him since 2001 I have to start over again as a new patient. The last RA I saw was when I was living in Cali back in 2004 that is 3000 miles away from me nowDx with Crohn's 1987, symptoms as early as 1984.

73Monte when first diagnosed my joint pain was just kind of achy, nothing specific. Now 32 years laters, granted I am now older, but my joint pain can cause me to limp now it gets so stiff and sore. BUT, I have always had alot of my aches in the hips, knees and ankles. Hope that helps.

Dragonfly I am glad you are going in to see a Rheumy. I think you will finally get some relief that way. Good Luck!Been living with Crohn's Disease for 32 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec 60 mg, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain and Calcium. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and doing tests to see if I have Inflammatory Arthritis or AS.

To be blunt, I refer to my joint issues as severe. In fact, they follow a pattern of flaring just like the CD that caused them. A Rheumatologist told me back in 95 ( the first serious attack) that CD arthritis does not follow intestinal inflammation like it does commonly in UC. Anyway, for example, my worst arthritis often comes at the end of intestinal episodes. Those oldtimers here will recall back at the end of '05 I hgad a mild flare that quited down only to be followed by an arthritis episode in January that effected about a dozen different joints. Also, mine move up and down the side of my body, migrating to different joints. I just started seeing a pain specialist and he picked up on lower level arthritis in my legs right away. Not surprising, since its my knees that always get the worst of it. Anyway, the answer to the question Dragonfly asked is a resounding, deafining YES!!!

I called many RA offices today seeing about getting in and I cant wait 2 - 3 weeks I litterally have to lift my R leg with my hand to get it in the tub ( it is a clawfoot and I am short to begin with so getting in was tough even before). I had difficulty sleeping last night due to the constant pain. I stop my fentanyl tonight from my surgeries too, going to be interesting feeling the pain without the patch. I still have dilaudid pills though. I called my PCP office and they are going to try and get me in somewhere hopefully they can pull some strings.Dx with Crohn's 1987, symptoms as early as 1984.

Were your joints really bad before your surgery too? Also, good thing you still have the Dilaudid, I think your going to need it. How are you doing on going down on the patches? I have been thinking about you alot. I had so much problem getting off those, but sounds like your doc is better at weaning you than mine was.Been living with Crohn's Disease for 32 years. Currently on Asacol, Prilosec 60 mg, Estrace, Prinivil, Diltiazem, Percoset prn for pain and Calcium. Resections in 2002 and 2005. Recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and doing tests to see if I have Inflammatory Arthritis or AS.

My doc pretty much let me do the cutting down. He gave me a months worth (10 pathces) of the 50s and I only used 5 of them before starting the 25s. Tonight my plan is to remove the 25 (I still have the 5 50s and 6 more of the 25s) my Dr trusts me as far as knowing my pain scale for cutting down. I had a few of the 100 dilaudid left from my surgery (yeah 100 and still some left a lil over 2 months later...I have a high pain tolerance). I had to take the dilaudid 2 times today but for my joints not my belly. My GI called i 3 months worth of entocort and wants me to hold off if I can. My joints are more commonly affected around my menstrual cycle, since I got it yesterday I was hoping the pain would lessen but no such luck yet. Tylenol was my friend to fall asleep last night after my husband left for work today (4:30 am) I was unable to fall back to sleep no matter how I was positioned I took dilauded which barely dented the pain. On top of all this my family stress is bad right now with health of other members. In my past threads about stress Imentioned what was going on.

Sad to say that the pneumonia Tx is not working for my garndmother and she is now having hospice come in. They dont think she will last more than 2 weeks, and for the first time today I think my papa finally realized how grave her illness is. I dont know if he didnt understand or if he was in denial or a little of both, they have been married 58 years. We assumed she had alzheimers for a while but no matter what we did she wouldnt see a dr about it not long after I was discharged from the hospital her health dropped fast. When I was in the hospital back in Feb and Mar she made it to see me very few days, when I was first Dx in 1987 she had taken early retirement and spent every day with me when I was in the hospital for 6 weeks. When I was in for my reversal surgery they came to see me everyday, I wonder if somewhere in her she unconsciously knew this was coming to her.Dx with Crohn's 1987, symptoms as early as 1984.

I know I just need something asap especially since my nana is not doing well. I stopped the fenyanyl tonight and glad that I will be allowed to drive again but with this pain I can hardly walk let alone drive. The pain I use to have most frequently was my R ankle and knee. More recently the L knee and ankle had been affected but not to the severity it is at now. I have actually lost range of motion in the knee and ankle due to the swelling, and the hip and brand new to me the range there is down hard to tell if there is swelling there being that the pain is in the groin area. In the past 20 years I have had more joint flares than belly flares, the joints are actually what got me so immune to pain meds since I was on so many for so long. I hope that my PCP office may be able to get me in sooner if they call expressing the urgency of the situation. My GI wanted me in asap to a RA.Dx with Crohn's 1987, symptoms as early as 1984.